WESSON – A popular meeting place caught fire Tuesday morning atTimberlane Campgrounds near Lake Lincoln.

The Chuckwagon building sustained damage during the fire thatstarted around 10 a.m. at the campground area. Owner Troy Pittssaid a fire in a fireplace spread after it was briefly leftunattended.

Volunteer firefighters from the Heuck’s Retreat, Strong Hope andWesson departments were able to save the building.

“It was not fully involved (upon arrival),” said Carl Diamond, alieutenant with Heuck’s Retreat VFD. “It burned one room of thebuilding.”

Diamond said the meeting hall was the only room damaged. He alsomentioned some damage to building’s attic.

“We did what we had to do to stop it,” Diamond said. “It was agood save to be as far out as it was.”

An exact age of the building was not available, but someresidents said it had been in place at least several decades. Thebuilding, which Pitts said had been added onto over the years,features an oak tree growing through it.

“We built the building around the tree,” Pitts said. “Once upona time, it was called the Tree House.”

Pitts said the building is now known at the Chuckwagon.

Most recently, Pitts said, the building has been used for churchand campgrounds meetings. He mentioned a church meeting everyTuesday night for children.

Also, a few months ago, the building was in line to be used as arestaurant. However, Pitts said that enterprise never got off theground.

Pitts said the building was not insured. He was not sure Tuesdaymorning what his future plans for the building are.

“We’ll have to wait to see what damage has been done,” Pittssaid.

Diamond said he expected about 40-45 percent damage to thebuilding.